Page 68 of Rachel’s Pudding Pantry

Chapter 29

A BRAVE NEW DAY

Rachel woke up in a cold sweat with a feeling of panic racing through her veins. Had it been a bad dream or a memory? She came to, realising that she was in the warmth of her double bed, safe in the farmhouse. It was reminiscent of a long-forgotten time – when she was just Maisy’s age – and she’d had a nightmare in the very same bedroom. She couldn’t even remember what the dream was all about now, but the same feelings of fear and panic were rushing back.

Dad had come in back then when she was a little girl, must have heard her cry out, with his deep voice telling her to hush, followed by a bear hug and his soothing words that all was well. They had crept downstairs hand in hand, where he warmed milk on the Aga and they sat together in the comfy chair, talking about all the animals on the farm.

Rachel had been learning to tell the time and the big and little hands on the clock were both at the very top. Dad explained that meant it was midnight, and he said that Mum was fast asleep in bed. It was just the two of them up. He assured her that when she went back to bed in a minute everything would be fine until morning came … and it was … at least for the next seventeen years.

Maybe it was thinking about Maisy and Jake’s shock appearance that had irked her, or the worries with all the developments on the farm … with their big opening day ahead. She wasn’t quite sure what had set her spiralling down memory lane. But just remembering Dad and that feeling of having his arms around her was comforting. Rachel allowed herself to doze once more, until her alarm announced the new day.

Friday the 12th July, and it was now ten twenty-five on the official opening day of the Pudding Pantry at Primrose Farm. Jill was behind the counter, which was laden with freshly baked goodies, and Rachel was about to swing the barn door wide open, ready for their first customers.

They’d done it, they’d only gone and bloody well done it. The room itself seemed to glow with pride. The honey-coloured walls shone and Eve’s toys and crafts were carefully placed on the two dressers. And the spread of food – just wow. Her mum had excelled herself with all the baking. Granny Ruth was keeping an eye on Maisy back at the farmhouse for them until Jake arrived. It really was a team effort. Rachel raised a big thumbs up and grinned across at her mum as she turned the handle on the new barn door.

‘Ta-dah!’ She opened the door with a flourish and used an old heavy iron that she’d found in the barn as a stopper. Rachel had asked Granny Ruth about it, and apparently the iron had once belonged to her mother; she’d warm it on the old range in the kitchen, ready to press their clothes and laundry. It was lovely to have another farmhouse relic, passed down through the generations.

Despite Rachel’s excitement, there was no-one there waiting to come in just yet.

She sighed. ‘The crowds haven’t quite come flocking,’ she called across to Jill cheerily, poking her head out to check the parking area in the yard. ‘Shall we have a quick coffee?’

‘Now that sounds like a plan. I’ll get another practice in on this machine.’

They’d managed, at the last minute, to source a great second-hand coffee machine that frothed, gurgled and made the most delicious fresh coffee, though Jill was still getting to grips with the technicalities of it. (It had bamboozled Granny Ruth completely.)

‘Now which bit do I fill with the ground coffee again?’

‘Here,’ Rachel pointed. ‘And about two-thirds high for a nice strongish cup.’

‘Ah yes, that’s it. Got it now.’

Five minutes later, the two of them were sitting at the table nearest the door sipping their drinks. They got momentarily excited at the sound of an engine, but the little red van pulling up only announced the postman, Trevor. Mind you, Rachel’s selling skills won them their first customer with a takeaway coffee, and she told him all about their delicious bacon rolls, scones and selections of puddings to tempt his tastebuds for another day.

‘Have a good day, Trevor!’ they called after him as he set off, having delivered their mail. Rachel hoped the brown envelopes amongst the pile weren’t bills; with all the set-up costs, money seemed to be leaching out before any was coming back in. The next few months were going to be a fine balancing act.

Jake arrived to see Maisy just before eleven – his timing as unreliable as ever. They still hadn’t had an official customer yet, and Rachel couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed.

‘You go and take Jake across to the farmhouse,’ offered Jill. ‘I’ll keep an eye out here ready for the big rush,’ she added wryly.

‘Okay, thanks.’ She headed out to meet her ex. ‘Hi Jake,’ she said, ‘I thought we’d agreed ten o’clock?’ She looked at her watch pointedly.

‘Ah, I was just sorting out a few things at my digs, whilst I had some internet there.’

‘Okay.’ She decided to let it slide, trying to keep this adult and mature. ‘Well, Maisy’s over in the farmhouse. I’ll take you across.’

‘Right you are.’

Maisy was sitting with Granny Ruth at the kitchen table, her focus intent on a half-finished jigsaw puzzle.

‘Hey, Maisy.’ Jake grinned across at her.

‘Oh, hi-i …’ She looked up for a second and then fitted the piece in her hand into the puzzle.

‘Well done, Maisy,’ praised Granny.

‘Do you want a go?’ Maisy asked Jake, offering him a piece from the table.

‘Yeah, why not.’ He stood at her shoulder frowning. It seemed to take a while before he worked it out. ‘There.’ He sounded relieved.